Having an air conditioner isn’t as easy as just turning it on and feeling it cool your home. While the majority of the time this is what we do, having an AC unit means regular check-ups and maintenance to ensure you’re getting the best efficiency out of your system. Neglecting regular maintenance will ensure your unit steadily decreases in performance as energy use increases. There are two main things you’ll want to inspect as you do your routine checkups: Filters and Coils.
FILTERS – Without proper filters, your air won’t be as clean and easy to breathe. Filters are important parts of your general AC unit, as they do what their name implies: the filter the air. For these pieces, you’ll need to make sure the filters are clean as clogged, dirty filters block airflow and heavily reduce a system’s max efficiency. When they become too polluted or worn, you’ll want to replace the filters.
Generally, filters are found along the return duct’s length. You’ll likely see the filters in furnaces, ceilings, or the actual AC unit itself. If you have a room AC unit, the filter will be mounted in the grill that faces the room.
Take a close look at your air filter—while some filters can be replaced, some can also be reused if they’re cleaned off properly. If you want more of a disposable sort of filter, keep in mind you’ll be replacing all your AC’s filters every 1.5 months during the summer season. While this may seem very often, it isn’t—you should be doing a routine checkup every 1.5 months anyway.
COILS – The coils in your AC unit collect dirt over months and years of reliable service. If your filters are constantly clean, your coils will remain durable much longer than if your filters were dirty. Even with the cleanest filters, your coils will eventually gather enough dirt that they will need to be replaced. The good news is, with clean filters, this replacement can be brought down to 5 years instead of every year.
Why is the dirt collection on the coils such a bad thing? Aside from the fact that you’re wasting money replacing the coils, the main reason you want to keep your coils clean and dirt-free is because of its ability to absorb heat. The dirtier the coil, the worse the coil becomes at absorbing heat. Because of this, you may begin to experience cooling problems as your AC unit struggles to properly cool your home.
To avoid this problem, try and minimize the amount of dirt and dust that surround your AC unit. Since your unit will be outside, ensure a dust-free environment by taking protective measures like covering your AC unit during dusty or stormy weather. If you have plants surrounding the unit, try and trim them back to allow 2 feet of space around the unit.
If you’re interested in purchasing new coils or filters for your AC, take a look at plumbersstock.com by clicking here. Although you may want to try your local home and hardware store first, if they don’t have what you need, you’ll find it at a much more affordable price at plumbersstock.